Kabul | July 7, 2025
A massive deportation campaign by Iran has forced *about 800,000 Afghan nationals, including many who were long-term residents, across the border into Afghanistan since March, with nearly *600,000 expelled since June 1, the UN refugee agency reports (apnews.com).
Background: Countdown to the Deadline
- Iran issued a March expulsion order requiring undocumented Afghans to leave or face arrest.
- The situation intensified during the 12-day Israel–Iran conflict, fueling claims that Afghans were suspected as spies—prompting Iran to deem them a national security concern (aljazeera.com).
- Daily deportations surged from an average of 2,000 to over *30,000 per day, peaking at *50,000 around the July 6 deadline
Iran: Top Refugee-Hosting Country Under Pressure
Iran long hosted the world’s largest refugee population—around *3.5 million Afghans—but many remained undocumented, pushing Tehran to tighten policies. About *2 million lacked proper legal papers, according to aid groups.
Harsh Realities of Forced Returns
Returnees describe *abrupt police detentions—often from workplaces or streets—forced boarding onto buses, and demands for *bribes before being sent across the border. Many were born in Iran and had little connection to Afghanistan .
Arafat Jamal, UNHCR’s representative in Kabul, remarked:
“They are bewildered, disoriented and very sad at leaving their work or their lives in Iran.”
Humanitarian Alarms in Kabul
This deportation surge adds to a crisis—over 1.2 million Afghans have been sent back from Iran and Pakistan in 2025. Many arrive in scorching heat, lacking food, shelter, or clear guidance
UN agencies warn that this mass repatriation could destabilize Afghanistan and overwhelm humanitarian support.
What’s Being Done Now
- UNHCR and IOM are providing hot meals, basic relief kits, and psychological support at border reception sites.
- However, funding meets only about a quarter of UNHCR’s \$216 million appeal
- Donor countries are being urged to step in to help sustain aid for the stimulus-stricken Afghan crisis.
Key Takeaways
- Total expelled: ~800,000 Afghans since March, with ~600,000 since June.
- Cause: Iran deports undocumented migrants amid security concerns after regional tensions.
- Daily rate: Increased dramatically to 30,000–50,000 deportations daily.
- Impact: Returnees arrive traumatized, often robbed and exhausted.
- Humanitarian strain: Afghanistan struggles with resources; UN agencies warn of deepening crisis.